Manchester United to offload rags-to-riches Bebe after loan

Portuguese striker returns to Old Trafford, but is surplus to requirements after Besiktas loan

LAST UPDATED AT 10:55 ON Thu 24 May 2012

ALEX FERGUSON may be ruing his decision to splash out £7.4m on unknown Portuguese youngster Bebe two summers ago as the 21-year-old flop prepares to head back to Manchester United after a season-long loan to Besiktas, as anti-corruption police continue to investigate the deal that brought him to Old Trafford.

Bebe's rags-to-riches story captured the imagination of football fans everywhere in 2010. Having spent part of his childhood living on the streets, the youngster was spotted thanks to the Homeless World Cup and sealed a move to the then Premier League champions for £7.4m just weeks after he joined Vitoria Guimaraes on a free transfer from Estrela da Amadora in the Portugese third division.

However, his career stalled once he arrived in Manchester. He made just seven appearances during his first season at United, scoring twice, and was promptly sent out on loan to Turkish side Besiktas, in the hope that they would sign him at the end of the season.

Things didn't work out that way as Bebe suffered a serious knee injury and after returning to action fell foul of coach Tayfur Havutcu for breaking a club curfew and going to a nightclub. He was fined, ordered to train with the reserves and has now been deemed surplus to requirements.

"United are understood to be prepared to sell Bebe should they receive a suitable offer for the Portugal U-21 winger, but with the player just two years into a five-year contract, he is likely to rejoin the first-team squad this summer unless a buyer can be found," reports The Daily Telegraph.

But the Daily Mail says that it is "highly unlikely" that the youngster who created such a fuss will ever play for United again.

And even if they sell the player, his legacy will live on in the form of the police investigation. Although there is no suggestion of any wrong-doing on United's part, they have been quizzed by police investigating his former club, Vitoria Guimaraes.

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Submitted by Redscot on May 24, 2012 - 11:34am.

It was an unlikely 'rags to riches' fairytale story for Bebe in the end.Hans christian Anderson writes fairytales , not the cruel world of top level sport .Personally i hope he can carve out a career back in Portugal , and appreciate he had the opportunity to pull on the famous Manchester United shirt , and take to the stage at Old Trafford.Something that likely none of us will ever attain.Bebe was just not Manchester United standard , he is not alone and will just be another addition to future lists of Manchester United , failures.Providing company to.Ralph Milne.Jordi Cruyff.Mark Bosnich.David Bellion.Kleberson.Massimo Taibi. Eric Djemba - Djemba.